Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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581. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the promotion of the broadband mapping consultation process that has been embarked on with local community groups and vested interest organisations. [3935/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland are expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.

On 24 November last, a public consultation on a national high speed coverage map 2016 was launched. This consultation will close on the 12th February next. Submissions made in respect of this paper will feed in to the on-going work on developing a comprehensive intervention strategy which is scheduled to be completed by next summer. The map can be accessed at . The areas on the map marked Blue will all have access to high speed broadband services of at least 30Mbps from the commercial sector by end of 2016. The areas marked Amber will require the intervention of the State.

The map allows all members of the public, be they business or residential, to see whether their premises or home will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016 or whether they will be included in the Government's proposed intervention. It also provides detailed information on over 50,000 townlands throughout the entire country.

In the run up to and since the publication of the Map, my Department has had over 80 meetings with operators and stakeholder groups representing a wide range of rural interests. I was also pleased that both the Irish Farmers Association and the Clare Local Development Company participated with me in launching the Map in Doolin, Co. Clare. The on-line Map and associated information links created by my Department has received over 50,000 hits since launch, which I believe is a strong indicator of the public's interest in this project.

My Department is continuing to actively engage with a wide range of stakholders and my officials are always available to meet with representative groups or bodies to explain the background to the mapping exercise and the NBP in general. I would encourage all stakeholders, be they individuals or representative groups, to engage with the consultation process.